Sunrisers' top order overpower Kings XI
Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner and Kane Williamson all struck fifties for Sunrisers Hyderabad to set up a 26-run victory over Kings XI Punjab on Friday.
Due to their clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore being washed out on Tuesday, the Sunrisers had been out of IPL action for almost a week but showed few signs of rustiness in Mohali.
Dhawan made 77 from 48 balls alongside skipper Warner, who clubbed four fours and as many sixes in his 27-ball 51 as the opening pair put on 107.
After both had been dismissed, Williamson maintained their momentum with a brisk unbeaten half-century of his own as Sunrisers posted a formidable 207-3.
Fifties from the top three. We couldn't have asked for more. #OrangeArmy #RiseOfOrange #KXIPvSRH pic.twitter.com/ijFYnhFn2o
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 28, 2017
As wickets fell at regular intervals in the reply, Shaun Marsh proved the hosts' sole hope, but when he departed having crashed 14 fours and two sixes in his 50-ball 84, Kings XI were 144-6 in the 16th over and the game was up.
After a circumspect start, Warner got himself going with back-to-back sixes off Axar Patel in the fifth over, before both he and Dhawan brought up their fifties from consecutive balls at the start of the 10th.
Warner perished in the same over, however, cleaned up by opposite number Glenn Maxwell, whose 2-29 was the hosts' only bright note with the ball.
It was Maxwell who held on in the deep as Dhawan departed, before Williamson took responsibility for pushing Sunrisers beyond 200, striking four fours and two sixes in his 27-ball 54.
Martin Guptill (23 off 11) thumped five boundaries, including one maximum, to give Kings XI the rapid start they required, but only Eoin Morgan (26 from 21) offered Marsh any real support.
Marsh was dropped twice - by Deepak Hooda and Warner, with both going to the boundary - but it did not prove costly as Kings XI finished 181-9 with Rashid Khan's 1-16 the pick for the Sunrisers, who cement their place in third.